There are plenty of aggressive attacks on marriages today—pride, porn, promiscuity, power, prestige—and quite a bit written on who to address these enemies of marriage. But there’s another threat to your marriage that settles in to relationships with such a quiet presence we aren’t even aware of it until the damage is done. Can you guess what it is?
Have you ever felt lonely in your marriage? Unless you’ve experienced it, being married and lonely can sound impossible. How can two people live under the same roof in the intimacy and vulnerability of marriage and still be lonely? And if we do feel lonely, how do we break out of it and reconnect with our spouse?
Are your children looking forward to the coming school year? Brad was recently talking to two twin girls about to enter 6thgrade and asked if they were looking forward to school. One nodded her head vigorously while the other shook her head with about the same energy!
As the start of school looms in the not-too-distant future, the two of you have a window of opportunity to help your children end the summer well and start school strong. Intentional and unified parenting brings blessing and security to your home. And this is a season when you can plan specific ways to build experiences and memories with your kids. It also sets an example for your children on how they can partner with their spouse one day in raising the next generation!
Here are some simple ways you can connect with your children and make the most of this important season in their lives:
Brad and Heidi Mitchell
Yesterday we celebrated our 35thwedding anniversary. As we reflected on our marriage, we talked about keys that have helped us and practices we wish we had incorporated earlier in our marriage. We thought we’d share our list and hope it’s helpful for you as you Build Your Marriage:
Mount of Beatitudes
Is a trip to Israel right for you? Most of us consider traveling to Israel at some point in our lives. Ask yourself these 10 questions to determine if 2018 is the time for you:
This is a rare opportunity to check it off together. Our trip is November 27 – December 4.
In 2017 there were 3.6 million tourists to Israel from around the world—an increase of 25% from the year before. Being part of a group with experienced tour guides assures your added safety and comfort.
Traveling in November is the perfect time to travel in Israel as the average temperature is in the 50’s.
Going with a group means your arrangements are taken care of for you. You get a buffet breakfast each morning and dinner each evening (included!). The bus takes you to each site and all you have to do is soak in the experience.
You will experience the places Jesus did. Your reading of the Bible and perspective at key holidays will forever be redefined and enhanced. You’ll see Bethlehem (days before Christmas!), the Church of the Nativity, Jericho, Qumran, the Dead Sea, the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, and you’ll cross the Sea of Galilee. Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Garden Tomb and more will be visited during your visit.
You will grow in your Biblical knowledge and understanding.
You’ll make new friends, enjoy great food, you can float in the Dead Sea, and renew your wedding vows in the Chapel at Cana. (We also hear the ice cream is amazing! 🙂 )
Yes! Some of the evenings include Build Your Marriage sessions with Brad & Heidi Mitchell.
Until August 14ththe price is under $5,000 per couple. That includes airfare for two from New York, hotel, meals, admission fees, hotel gratuities, bus and more! Singles can come as well! Click the link below for additional details.
Just click this link for more information and to sign up online: http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-mitchell-56373
We hope you can join us in Israel in 2018 as you build your marriage!
One of the most important shared roles you have as a couple is grounding your children in their knowledge and understanding of Bible. You are giving them the foundation they need to flourish in their relationship with Jesus. Having Scripture plant in their hearts and minds will guide them for years to come in making wise, God-honoring decisions.
At a recent Build Your Marriage® conference we were asked, “What is the ONE THING you would advise couples to do to protect their marriage?” What would be your answer to that question? What do you do to protect your marriage? How would you rank the things you would do? What would be at the top of your list?
Brad & Heidi celebrating their 35th anniversary in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Most couples love to get away on a vacation with their children or just alone. The challenge, however, is the sheer expense of traveling. Vacations do cost money, but we have some simple ideas that you can put into practice that will help stretch your dollars and make your dreams a reality.
We love to travel. Together we’ve been to 38 countries. Heidi has been to all fifty states (Brad’s close). In fact, Heidi has almost 100,000 reads of her reviews on TripAdvisor, making her a senior advisor with them. We write this simply to lend some credibility to the suggestions we list below.
